Published: Monday, September 1, 2014 at 6:15 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 1, 2014 at 6:58 p.m.

Even though the Florida-Idaho game consists of only one play at the moment, the three Gator players who were suspended from the opener have been reinstated for Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan.

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Defensive tackles Darious Cummings and Jay-nard Bostwick and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson are all scheduled to play Saturday.

“We did have Darious Cummings and Jay-nard Bostwick suspended for the first game for a violation of team rules. They will be back this week with us,” UF coach Will Muschamp said. “Not just as far as the suspension of a game, but they've handled a lot of other things for me, as well as Demarcus Robinson, who had a university sanction that's been resolved.”

Muschamp said Robinson's suspension was not related to any issues the sophomore had last season when he was suspended twice, missing a total of three games.

“It's a total separate issue,” Muschamp said.

The long, long wait

Muschamp said the Gators did a nice job keeping their focus in the locker room during the long weather delays Saturday night.

“I had the coaches back in by position, go over reminders of the game plan, getting their minds back on it, back focused,” Muschamp said. “We felt our guys were extremely focused the entire time. Restless to the point by the end there at 10-10:30 after being on the field once. I felt that we handled the situation very well and maturely.”

Wide receiver Valdez Showers said the players wanted to make sure they were ready when they got the call to return to the field.

“We started going over plays again, making sure we still focused in on the game and not getting too much sidetracked,” said Showers, who returned the opening kickoff 64 yards. “We were just going over plays, trying to keep each other in the groove still.”

Jones starts at tailback

Muschamp said not to read too much into the fact Matt Jones started Saturday's game at tailback ahead of Kelvin Taylor. Jones was going to run the ball on the first play from scrimmage, but the game was suspended just before the first snap.

“Those guys are both going to play. They've both done a nice job. At the end of the day they're going to get a bunch of carries,” Muschamp said. “I've got great confidence in both players. In the package we were in, we had one back. There are going to be some packages with two backs and both of those guys are going to be involved. And it's going to be a week-to-week deal. It's really who prepares and practices the right way, which they both do. It's going to be a hard decision every week.”

Christy wins his job back

Kyle Christy, who went from Ray Guy award finalist in 2012 to backup punter in 2013, has regained his starting role, Muschamp said. He'd lost his job last season to true freshman Johnny Townsend, who is now the No. 2 guy.

“Kyle Christy will be the punter,” Muschamp said. “We feel like Kyle was a little more consistent, but certainly Johnny is more than capable."

Muschamp used the Christy-Townsend competition to illustrate how coaches sometimes have to make tough decisions based on what's best for the team.

“I talked to (the players) about everybody's role within the organization,” Muschamp said. “You don't have to really like your role, but you need to embrace it. And if you don't like it, do something about it.

“I said, look at Kyle and Johnny. You make that decision, because they're both really good players and there's only one punter. It's not like another position where you can contribute on a coverage unit or a return unit.

“And I think some of our players talk about the running back position, some of the competition there, the receiver position, the linebacker position, we're going to be in nickel and two guys are going to start.

“So, there are a lot of tough decisions we make, and we make them for a reason and what's best for the organization.”

Gators in ties

Anyone who took in the Gator Walk before Saturday's game should have noticed the players had a different, more formal look. They wore ties instead of their casual warm-ups.

“Well, I always say it's a business trip, and you don't wear warm-ups to a business meeting, do you? So we're going to dress a little nicer, or try to at least,” Muschamp said.

Connecting with the fans

Saturday's long delays seemed to bring the Gators and their fans (the hearty thousands who stuck it out) closer together.

The fans provided a loud, electric atmosphere for the players when they finally took the field to warm up at 9:30 p.m., and the players responded with a lot of energy and intensity.

“It was great,” Muschamp said. “I think our fans have always been great, but you know, we've got to give them something to be great about. That's on us, and I think this team will.

“It was awesome, absolutely. It looked like they were having fun and we needed to put a good product on the field for them, and I told our football team that this morning.”

This, that and the other

With no classes on Labor Day, the Gators went ahead and practiced in the morning. “To go ahead and get it in since we haven't really worked since Thursday. We started as a team and watched all the plays from Saturday night — took a long time,” Muschamp joked. “But Jarrad Davis got the hard hat award — he did. He had a great block on the kickoff return and a great job by Marcell Harris sealing the edge, Valdez bouncing it. Andre Debose put a devastating block on their kicker and we were able to get the ball down the sideline. So very well executed.” … Safety/nickel Marcus Maye (hamstring) practiced Monday and could be ready for Saturday's game. “He's probably 80-85 percent. We'll see how he continues to progress for the week,” Muschamp said. … Muschamp said true freshman Treon Harris will remain the No. 2 quarterback unless something changes this week in practice. “Both Will (Grier) and Skyler (Mornhinweg) got reps at practice with our first offense. We'll evaluate the tape from today and move to the next day and continue to do that through the season. I think it's important for those guys to stay game ready,” Muschamp said.

<p>Even though the Florida-Idaho game consists of only one play at the moment, the three Gator players who were suspended from the opener have been reinstated for Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan.</p><p> Defensive tackles Darious Cummings and Jay-nard Bostwick and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson are all scheduled to play Saturday.</p><p> “We did have Darious Cummings and Jay-nard Bostwick suspended for the first game for a violation of team rules. They will be back this week with us,” UF coach Will Muschamp said. “Not just as far as the suspension of a game, but they've handled a lot of other things for me, as well as Demarcus Robinson, who had a university sanction that's been resolved.”</p><p> Muschamp said Robinson's suspension was not related to any issues the sophomore had last season when he was suspended twice, missing a total of three games.</p><p> “It's a total separate issue,” Muschamp said.</p><p><b>The long, long wait</b></p><p> Muschamp said the Gators did a nice job keeping their focus in the locker room during the long weather delays Saturday night.</p><p> “I had the coaches back in by position, go over reminders of the game plan, getting their minds back on it, back focused,” Muschamp said. “We felt our guys were extremely focused the entire time. Restless to the point by the end there at 10-10:30 after being on the field once. I felt that we handled the situation very well and maturely.”</p><p> Wide receiver Valdez Showers said the players wanted to make sure they were ready when they got the call to return to the field.</p><p> “We started going over plays again, making sure we still focused in on the game and not getting too much sidetracked,” said Showers, who returned the opening kickoff 64 yards. “We were just going over plays, trying to keep each other in the groove still.”</p><p><b>Jones starts at tailback</b></p><p> Muschamp said not to read too much into the fact Matt Jones started Saturday's game at tailback ahead of Kelvin Taylor. Jones was going to run the ball on the first play from scrimmage, but the game was suspended just before the first snap.</p><p> “Those guys are both going to play. They've both done a nice job. At the end of the day they're going to get a bunch of carries,” Muschamp said. “I've got great confidence in both players. In the package we were in, we had one back. There are going to be some packages with two backs and both of those guys are going to be involved. And it's going to be a week-to-week deal. It's really who prepares and practices the right way, which they both do. It's going to be a hard decision every week.”</p><p><b>Christy wins his job back</b></p><p> Kyle Christy, who went from Ray Guy award finalist in 2012 to backup punter in 2013, has regained his starting role, Muschamp said. He'd lost his job last season to true freshman Johnny Townsend, who is now the No. 2 guy.</p><p> “Kyle Christy will be the punter,” Muschamp said. “We feel like Kyle was a little more consistent, but certainly Johnny is more than capable."</p><p> Muschamp used the Christy-Townsend competition to illustrate how coaches sometimes have to make tough decisions based on what's best for the team.</p><p> “I talked to (the players) about everybody's role within the organization,” Muschamp said. “You don't have to really like your role, but you need to embrace it. And if you don't like it, do something about it.</p><p> “I said, look at Kyle and Johnny. You make that decision, because they're both really good players and there's only one punter. It's not like another position where you can contribute on a coverage unit or a return unit.</p><p> “And I think some of our players talk about the running back position, some of the competition there, the receiver position, the linebacker position, we're going to be in nickel and two guys are going to start. </p><p> “So, there are a lot of tough decisions we make, and we make them for a reason and what's best for the organization.”</p><p><b>Gators in ties</b></p><p> Anyone who took in the Gator Walk before Saturday's game should have noticed the players had a different, more formal look. They wore ties instead of their casual warm-ups.</p><p> “Well, I always say it's a business trip, and you don't wear warm-ups to a business meeting, do you? So we're going to dress a little nicer, or try to at least,” Muschamp said.</p><p><b>Connecting with the fans</b></p><p> Saturday's long delays seemed to bring the Gators and their fans (the hearty thousands who stuck it out) closer together.</p><p> The fans provided a loud, electric atmosphere for the players when they finally took the field to warm up at 9:30 p.m., and the players responded with a lot of energy and intensity.</p><p> “It was great,” Muschamp said. “I think our fans have always been great, but you know, we've got to give them something to be great about. That's on us, and I think this team will.</p><p> “It was awesome, absolutely. It looked like they were having fun and we needed to put a good product on the field for them, and I told our football team that this morning.”</p><p> </p><p><b>This, that and the other</b></p><p> With no classes on Labor Day, the Gators went ahead and practiced in the morning. “To go ahead and get it in since we haven't really worked since Thursday. We started as a team and watched all the plays from Saturday night — took a long time,” Muschamp joked. “But Jarrad Davis got the hard hat award — he did. He had a great block on the kickoff return and a great job by Marcell Harris sealing the edge, Valdez bouncing it. Andre Debose put a devastating block on their kicker and we were able to get the ball down the sideline. So very well executed.” … Safety/nickel Marcus Maye (hamstring) practiced Monday and could be ready for Saturday's game. “He's probably 80-85 percent. We'll see how he continues to progress for the week,” Muschamp said. … Muschamp said true freshman Treon Harris will remain the No. 2 quarterback unless something changes this week in practice. “Both Will (Grier) and Skyler (Mornhinweg) got reps at practice with our first offense. We'll evaluate the tape from today and move to the next day and continue to do that through the season. I think it's important for those guys to stay game ready,” Muschamp said.</p>